SQE & Zenobē: Reshaping Mobico Group's Energy Procurement

For years, procurement departments have relied on fixed-price energy contracts as a 'set-and-forget' shield against market volatility, but National Express Bus is partnering with SQE (an energy supply platform exclusively for large industrial and commercial users) and Zenobē (a global leader in EV fleet electrification and battery storage solutions) to address this.

The pair will help National Express, who's parent company is the Mobico Group, to overhaul its UK energy procurement model, enabling the company to reduce costs, manage risk and cut emissions.

A shift from utility to managed commodity

By moving to SQE’s dynamic procurement model, National Express Bus is treating energy not as a static utility but as a manageable commodity. This shift allows the organisation to capture the upside of live wholesale prices while using Zenobē’s expertise to hedge against the downside – a sophisticated evolution from tactical buying to active category management.

Chris Bowden, Founder and CEO, SQE, says: “The UK’s power market is in the midst of a profound transformation – one which is redrawing the landscape for industrial and commercial energy users. There’s an urgent need for businesses to abandon a passive, analogue approach to energy consumption to establish a strategy that manages risk exposure and generates revenue – turning energy into a competitive advantage.

“We’re proud to collaborate with Zenobē to help National Express Bus navigate today’s complex energy market and take greater control of its procurement strategy. This partnership shows how large transport operators can cut costs, manage risk and align energy procurement with sustainability goals – even with market volatility.”

All sustainability, net zero and sustainable procurement leaders should attend:

• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The Net Zero Summit - QEII Centre, London, March 4-5
  
  
• Procurement & Supply Chain LIVE: The US Summit - Navy Pier, Chicago, April 21-22
  

Co-located with Sustainability LIVE, these events brings together CPOs, CSCO, CSOs, ESG leaders and senior decision-makers at a moment when sustainability, supply chains and commercial performance are increasingly interconnected.

Tickets can be booked online today for The Net Zero Summit and The US Summit. Group discounts available.

Powering the zero-emission ambition

This comes in the form of a two-year collaborative agreement that provides National Express Bus with an end-to-end power management solution for its electric fleet. SQE’s dynamic procurement model will enable Zenobē to manage 47GWh of renewable energy, supporting National Express Bus’s ambition to achieve a zero-emission fleet.

Roy Brewer, Head of Strategic Sourcing at Mobico Group – parent company of National Express Bus – says: “As volatility in the energy market continues, we need to be smarter about how we buy energy. SQE and Zenobē’s approach is a breath of fresh air in corporate energy procurement.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with SQE – a market disruptor who genuinely understands our needs and has given us the most cost-effective route to energy procurement. Corporate energy procurement is historically complex, but its line-by-line, transparent invoicing – which gives us access to site-specific half-hourly data – has enabled us to truly understand, and report on, where and how we’re using energy.”

Leveraging live wholesale markets

The power supply solution has enabled National Express Bus to move away from a traditional fixed-price energy contract, which can expose organisations to significant cost risk during periods of market volatility.

Through the SQE platform, National Express Bus can now purchase electricity via Zenobē’s procurement team at live wholesale prices. This model also allows them to sell surplus energy back to the grid when consumption dips below forecasts.

By aligning procurement with actual usage, specifically the 80-90% of energy consumed during overnight charging, SQE and Zenobē protect the fleet’s budget from market volatility while ensuring efficient energy management and reconciliation.

Al Wilson, Power Procurement and Renewable Solutions Director at Zenobē, adds: “Zenobē’s coordinated approach with SQE is market-leading in the transport sector and will protect the long-term financial viability of electric bus operations into the future.

“With National Express Bus we are delivering renewable power for 467 electric buses, grounded in a unique new strategy utilising SQE’s innovative supply products and hourly markets, delivering significant savings when compared to more traditional approaches.”